Monday, October 29, 2007

"Frost Warning"???

I don't believe what I read in the papers
They're just out to capture my dime


- Paul Simon, "Have a Good Time"


So I've blogged before about the silliness and irresponsibility of the TV news and the media in general, and this is certainly a topic discussed in general in today's world, where every story seems to warn us about impending death and mortal harm around every corner.

In the past, I've blogged specifically about weather advisory warnings as issued on the TV news. It seems like the trend in recent years continues to lean towards "warning" or "advising" us on any possible bit of winter weather that could fall. The *potential* for flurries seem to warrant a "winter weather advisory" these days. And being a weather geek my whole like, I usually pay attention to the weather forecasts and don't seem to remember this.

This morning was the first cold morning this season. The temperature was going to dip into the upper 30s / low 40s overnight. So on this morning's TV news... we had... get this... a "freeze / frost warning". A FROST WARNING!!!!

"TV Viewers... be ready... because you might have to... PUT ON A JACKET!!! You may even have to turn on the defroster in your car on the way to work!!! BE WARNED!"

Now, after complaining about this to my wife, she played devil's advocate and pointed out that people who garden or have to tend to outdoor things might need to know this to take precautions for their outside objects. Granted, I hadn't thought of that. But still, isn't a blaring "frost warning" the dénouement of this ridiculous saga that is the TV weather's decline into absurdity? Can I just stick my head out the fucking window in the morning and decide what to wear?

MSNBC has issued the following disclaimer: The following image shows what can happen to people's feet who don't follow all MSNBC-issued frost warnings.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

"Hoes We Knows"

A cursory Google search did not immediately yield the lyrics to the Black Sheep song "Hoes We Knows" from their album that I listened to incessantly as a teenager, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. However, after searching through the results...

... I found the lyrics here.

Sophomoric topics notwithstanding, it remains one of my favorite nostalgic albums.

I decided to post this link because (a) most songs' lyrics come up immediately through a Google search and (b) our buddy Andy loves the reference to Kosher food through the summary of Dres' sexual encounter...

What's up with the skins? Said, I just got deep
Did it cost a lot? Naw, the boots were cheap
Costed me some time and a little bit of sleep
A fresh jimmy hat and some kosher meat







Yo Dres, it's your turn
Act like gonorrhea and burn, baby, burn

Desktop Tower Defense - read at your own risk!

Ever since Joe blogged about the game Desktop Tower Defense several months ago, I've gone through various stages of being addicted to it.

Here is the key to Pandora's Box.

I've been "competing" on and off with Jerry with top scores, although Jerry hasn't really tried the latest version of the game.


A more visually appealing image than swimsuit pictures? Probably not. A game more addicting than heroin? Probably.




What is it? It's a game as addicting to me as Tetris was. It's a strategy game where you have to shoot a bunch of guys using a variety of weapons. It's "live action" (i.e. not like Dungeons and Dragons or Risk).

Why is it so addicting? I have no idea. All I know is, I've caught myself playing during class when kids are taking quizzes, when kids are after school for extra help... and I've lost many productive hours at home playing the game. It's honestly having a negative effect on my life. At what point does one have a "problem"?

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Ok, I've decided. I want an envelope and some fries.

It was 9:50 the other night, I was doing school work on the computer which is in our bedroom, and my wife was sound asleep in the bed. All of a sudden, she said, clear as a bell...

H: "I actually don't know what I want yet. Give me a few minutes and I'll decide what I want."

M: "Ok..."

H: "Hmmm... give me the envelope."

M: "Are you sure that's what you want?"

H: ...


Yes, teachers are often asleep before 10:00 on weeknights.

Yeah, so Frazier beginning and winning this time...

A quick Q & A about this blog, Walt Clyde Frazier's Stream of Consciousness...


Ok, Walt, why are you starting your fourth blog in a couple of months?

I had my own personal blog which was nice and enjoyed very much. The title was "[my name]'s Stream of Consciousness" and I intended to keep blogging there.

However, I got paranoid when I found out that students of mine had located my blog. (Incase you are new, I teach high school.) Because much of my personal information was on the blog (including my name), I didn't want the blog to affect my professional life.

I started a new blog called A Quandary of Sorts which I thought was a neat concept, but it was an idea that would only really work if it was read and commented on much more often than it was. Plus, I like the "stream of consciousness" idea much better. It is conducive to getting my ideas out there, as well as serving as a "journal" of sorts where I can just write down my ideas.

So, I thought I would try to set up a Myspace account and blog there, thus killing two internet birds with one stone: set up a place to get in touch with "old" acquaintances, as well as blog. However, I find myself turned off with Myspace. Plus, it skeeves me out that all my students talk about is Myspace.

So, now I wanted to remain anonymous but also get back to just being able to blog randomly about whatever I want to share. Hence, I am here!



Are you going to actually stick with this blog?

I hope so. I plan on getting a lot out of it. I am too impatient / lazy to hand-write a "journal" at night before bed. However, I found that when I was writing the original Stream of Consciousness blog, I not only was able to articulate good, or at least interesting ideas out there that had been rattling around in my brain, but also was able to re-read old posts and remember where I had been recently in my life. It also created a sense of connection with other people that had blogs, and gave me a creative outlet where my work as a high school math teacher does not always do so.


Aren't you being a little silly / paranoid with this anonymity and switching around of blogs?

Probably. However, I feel, rightly or wrongly, that this isn't the same world of high school life that us around-30-something's remember from 15 years ago. Kids are so interconnected that the Internet is something not to meddle around with. I'm sure we've all heard stories, some true and some not, that people have gotten into professional trouble through stuff they'd written on their blogs, on Myspace, etc... And despite the joy I had with my blog and hope to have with this one, it's not worth the risk of having it affect my professional life, as I said before.


Ok, I'll give this new blog a shot. Just two things... 1) What is a "Hobo Con Queso", and 2) who is "Walt Clyde Frazier"?

1) "Hobo Con Queso" is Spanglish for Hobo with Cheese, a version of a common breakfast sandwich one can order at the greasy spoon diner that my friends and I frequented so much in our late teens / early twenties in our hometown, Five-Star Coffee Shop. The Hobo with Cheese consisted of fried/scrambled eggs, a kaiser roll toasted with slices of American cheese melted on it, and some potatoes fried up on the grill mixed in with the eggs.


Mmmm.... hobo...

The reason the Spanish words are used is the culinary artist of this delight was Carlos, who is Latino and thus the words "con queso" are in tribute to this gourmet of the grill. Like Pele, Cher and Dennery, his greatness means he doesn't need a last name.


2) Walt "Clyde" Frazier is a former NBA guard who played for the Knicks, among other teams. One of the 50 greatest players in NBA History, aside from winning two championships with the Knicks he is an announcer for Knicks games and one of the coolest cats in NYC history. He is my chosen Internet persona to protect my anonymity, and one can do a lot worse than Clyde.

Thanks for stopping by, and continue to read for the same high quality of blogmanship that you enjoyed at my previous blog!